tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5144297316856967886.post7780166729160185572..comments2011-01-11T07:06:33.445-08:00Comments on Brooks Creative Nonfiction: You as RadicalAdele &amp; Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595226359880069872noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5144297316856967886.post-32818876574793275382010-10-17T19:33:37.668-07:002010-10-17T19:33:37.668-07:00If I were to &quot;drop it all&quot;, I would like...If I were to &quot;drop it all&quot;, I would like to return to Eastern Africa, a place I was fortunate enough to live in on Exchange through Brooks. Being there just reinforces the idea to me that there is so much to see beyond our little bubble, and that all corners of the world were meant to be lived in and enjoyed. There is nothing like just taking in the view of an open savannah and seeing the world as it used to be, no industrial man, no civilization. Being in Kenya was not only a cross-cultural adventure, but a trip that crossed eras of time. I would like to go beyond Kenya and visit its neighbors; Uganda and Tanzania. Traveling on my own is so liberating, and I can truly be myself and take the road less traveled without worrying about the presence of my parents. The time taken for this trip would be well worth it and going back to the same old routine of home would be difficult. I think at some point everyone should be able to live out their &quot;dream&quot; even if it is just for a moment.Ryan Nowickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03853785801444012784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5144297316856967886.post-23755244139416395442010-10-07T05:22:38.557-07:002010-10-07T05:22:38.557-07:00If I were to just leave school, without saying any...If I were to just leave school, without saying anything to anyone, even my parents, I would probably do it with another person. Living on my own at my age would help me become more independent but It is a risky adventure and not something I am willing to risk my life on. I would probably gather as much money as possible until I could buy the cheapest car I could find first. I would then set out on the road, just with a few clothes, some extra food, and whatever I can carry to entertain me along the way. I would drive west until I reached California. I&#39;m not sure where in California I would go but once I arrived there, I would find a job, make enough to rent out the crapiest living space in town and start living there. Going to the beach and the beautiful geography of California would be enough to get me to stayalex vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02652739120955747506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5144297316856967886.post-3279622710039348212010-10-06T21:54:47.218-07:002010-10-06T21:54:47.218-07:00Well, being in the midst of this college process s...Well, being in the midst of this college process shit, nothing seems more attractive than to just say &quot;fuck it&quot;, say hasta la vista to the friggin&#39; college counseling department, my parents, and all the people who couldn&#39;t have given a rats ass about who I was and what I was doing until they learned that I am applying to colleges. To me, the whole college process lies at the heart of what i despise most about the institutionalized, conformist society that comprises what seems like an ever increasing percentage of a world that grows smaller with each passing day. There are days where nothing would give me more pleasure than to walk into that college counseling office and, with a smile on my face tell them that there has been a change of plans and that i&#39;m not going to college. The freedom, the release, and the simple rush of strating anew and not having a clue about what the day might bring is something I have always wanted, but been hesitant to do. I can see my plan so clearly in my mind. I would walk into a bank, take out all my money, hitchike (again something I&#39;ve always wanted to do) to Maine, buy a motorcycle and then live out of my trusty Talon 44 Osprey backpack as i see the world for myself, and on my own terms. My image of this act of rebellion and defiance, I realize, is completely romantic and idealized to the point where it makes little to no sense. <br />However I guess there is something that growing up, getting old, settling down, and living a life characterized by a boring routine (and yes, I hate routines) and filled with nostalgic regrets about all the discovery, and adventure, that seems to be laid at my feet. To me, you only live once, and so it&#39;s now or never.wparkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08779715433574558907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5144297316856967886.post-10474363547226508142010-10-06T20:26:41.726-07:002010-10-06T20:26:41.726-07:00Most teenagers living in a community as small as B...Most teenagers living in a community as small as Brooks have a tendency to feel particularly oppressed by the many rules and constant supervision that the school offers. Thus, I believe that, though boarding school has in fact made me a more independent person, I do feel oppressed by the required agenda at Brooks. It seems almost unnatural to have such a crowded schedule, however on the other hand what would teenagers do with their lives without such an agenda? If I had the option to distance myself from what oppresses me, I would travel completely on my own to a foreign country. There are many reasons behind this. Firstly, I feel that I live an extremely sheltered life and that this has allowed only a very narrow perspective of the world. Secondly, I believe that in order to gain a full education, international skills are crucial. Not only this, but I would be able to explore and travel completely on independently, completely on my own agenda, and free of any rules or restrictions.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11925959187683051545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5144297316856967886.post-849969758055232092010-10-06T20:12:48.728-07:002010-10-06T20:12:48.728-07:00I consider myself a very well traveled person. Fra...I consider myself a very well traveled person. France, Spain, Italy, Japan and Thailand are just a few of the distant lands that I have traveled to. As well, I spent five weeks with a host family in Beijing China so I can&#39;t say traveling of any form would be anywhere near intimidating. However, I&#39;ve never been a huge fan of the water. So a possible scenario would be to join the crew of a fishing boat--similar to the Perfect Storm--where huge, freezing tidal waves are the norm. As well, I hate the feeling that your stuck in a situation and theres no fast way out. You&#39;re basically tied to a boat and possibly hundreds of miles away from civilization. That combined with the constant flood of water is enough to drive me crazy. One of my biggest fears just happens to be getting lost at sea. But at the same time, the experience could be quite exhilarating. It would be a completely new scenario for me but i&#39;m sure after some time I could learn to adapt to a totally new routine.robbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15423208624003073746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5144297316856967886.post-68612072662214185292010-10-06T19:43:46.731-07:002010-10-06T19:43:46.731-07:00I could see myself doing many things that would be...I could see myself doing many things that would be considered radical in terms od my regular life, however I think the ultimate would be to ocmpletely submerge myself in an extreme third world community such as one in a rural community in Africa or areas of Asia and the middle east. I would ideally like to spend a signifigant amount of time such as a year or two, really embracing the culture, people, scenery, traditions and ultimately the mos tlikely eye eopening experience these people&#39;s lives bring them. I think that experiencing different cultures and people is something that everyone should do in their lives; I am confident that a large amount will realize ho wmuch they take for granted in their life after experiencing such a thing as emmersing one&#39;s self in a foreign culture. I have had a couple experiences in my life where I have been completely removed from society in a sense of no phones, internet, and things of that such. I think it is healthy for people to spend time removed from society and the everyday routines we tend to. Things that tend to oppress my include the constant competetiveness, drama, and the amount of these things that everyday people, including myself, take for granted. Immersing myself in a culture where there is almost nothing and the people embrace, live off, and take advantage of nature while realizing and respecting its powers. I think an adventure like this would do a great job of testing how well I can adapt to different cultures and be outside my comfort zone.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06262312607094009859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5144297316856967886.post-32769767232517627562010-10-06T13:04:30.654-07:002010-10-06T13:04:30.654-07:00I have always had of dream of driving straight acr...I have always had of dream of driving straight across the heart of South America, Atlantic ocean to Pacific with four friends. I would start on Rio, buy two of the cheapest Land Rovers that we could find then set out across the rest of Brazil, Argentina, and finally end up on the banks of the Pacific in Chile. We would then sell the cars and head home. We would camp as much as we could, and hope that the old, ratty 4x4’s would make the journey. <br /> The nice part of this dream adventure is that it is not that radical and defiantly possible, but it would free me from the daily grind of life back home. For me the most taxing part of my life is the schedule and lack of time. I always feel boxed in and smothered by the clock; as if it controls every part of my life. For this trip we would block a chunk of time that we could all afford to take out of our lives. Once that is settled I would only have to look at my watch twice; once at the beginning to make my flight and once at the end to catch a flight home. That mixed with the stunning vistas, beautiful weather and warm people that South America has to offer would, to me at least, make it the trip of a life time.Jhartiganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13490225717567506493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5144297316856967886.post-22448540336411783422010-10-06T07:14:51.711-07:002010-10-06T07:14:51.711-07:00Something that I have always wanted to do that is ...Something that I have always wanted to do that is unpredictable and &quot;radical&quot; from the life I currently live is similar to the journey that Elizabeth Gilbert described in her book &quot;Eat, Pray, Love.&quot; I want to live first in Spain, then in Greece, and lastly in Israel. Before I do this however, I want to learn how to speak Hebrew, and learn the basics of the Greek language, but not necessarily become fluent. I want to go to Spain because the spanish language is something that comes naturally to me. I love everything about Spanish literature as well as most of the spanish/latin american art that I have studied or seen, and I think that I could learn so much about all of these things, as well as get a first hand experience on what the culture is really like there. Greece has always been a place that amazes me. The ocean, the architecture, the food, and the overall vibe of the people who live there (from what I have heard about, anyway) is something that I would love to experience for myself. For my last journey, I want to live in a Kibbutz in Israel, make my own food, travel throughout the entire country, and experience the culture on my own time and at my own pace. When I traveled to Israel with my Temple group, I was so limited in terms of what I was allowed to do and where I could go, but I want to be able to experience Israel on my own terms. The reason I would want to go on this journey alone is because I personally find that it is a lot easier for me to completely be myself when I don&#39;t know anyone around me. I have always been an independent person, so homesickness wouldn&#39;t really be an issue for me. I love the idea of escaping what I consider to be normal or comfortable and finding new comfort and defining a new normal. Right now, I have absolutely no clue as to what I want to be when I grow up, or what I want to fulfill in my lifetime, but I think that by learning more about all these cultures and lifestyles first-hand, I will learn more about myself and what I want to do with my life will become more apparent.Sam Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06414833744184706404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5144297316856967886.post-61940507416225415112010-10-03T12:46:04.580-07:002010-10-03T12:46:04.580-07:00My version of a radical departure from my current ...My version of a radical departure from my current life would be to backpack around Europe for a year. I have lived a fairly predictable life, and while I have traveled quite a bit with my family, I have never been fully out of my comfort zone. I think that it would be the most rewarding experiences for me, to go backpack around Europe, where I would meet other people and see a whole other side of the world and myself. I have never immersed myself in a culture by myself and I have always traveled with my family. It&#39;s strange, and I have never really noticed until now that I have never been on my own in a completely different part of the world; terrified yet excited about the prospects that lie ahead. To me this trip would give me an overwhelming sense of independence in life, it would be the hardest and yet one of my most freeing endeavors. In my life I sometimes feel oppressed by the routines and schedules I&#39;m forced to follow, at school and and at home. There has never been a point in my life where I have been able to fully step out of my comfort zone by myself, and that idea scares me but also excites me. I think that people can become oppressed by the rules of society and conform there interests to fit the world. In &quot;Last American Man&quot; Gilbert talks about how the frontier and the hunger for adventure is gone in most people, how men have become refined by the societies they live in. I think that traveling to Europe and immersing myself in the unfamiliar would be the perfect radical choice for my life.jmacneil93https://www.blogger.com/profile/05990774467561362152noreply@blogger.com